Who Should I Start? Brock Bowers or Ben Sinnott

Wednesday, December 24, 11:30 AM

Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (knee) has been placed on Injured Reserve, ending his 2025 season, per NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. Pelissero notes that Bowers has been battling a lingering knee injury since Week 1, and the 2-13 Raiders are now focused on making sure their star tight end is fully healthy for 2026. Across 12 games this season, the 23-year-old recorded 64 receptions for 680 yards and seven touchdowns on 86 targets. With Bowers sidelined, Raiders tight end Michael Mayer is likely in line for a spike in both playing time and target share. Across a two-game stretch in Weeks 6 and 7 with Bowers inactive, Mayer recorded six catches for 60 yards and a touchdown on nine targets. For fantasy managers now left scrambling to fill the tight end position, Mayer could be a solid streamer in Week 17 against the New York Giants.

Wednesday, December 24, 10:32 AM

Washington Commanders tight end Ben Sinnott has recorded one catch in three straight games, totalling 49 yards on four targets. The second-year tight end posted season highs in snaps and routes in last week's loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, playing 66.7% of the snaps with a 56% route share. He could continue to see more opportunities as a receiver moving forward with Zach Ertz (knee) out for the season. John Bates played more in the first game without Ertz in Week 15, but that usage flipped in Week 16, with Sinnott playing more snaps and running more routes. The floor is still low for the Kansas State product, but he remains an intriguing player to monitor in Thursday's Christmas Day matchup against the division-rival Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys have struggled to defend the pass all season, and with Sinnott's opportunities on the rise, he profiles as a deep-league dart throw as a TE2 in Week 17.